Lawyers for a Finnish pilot who admitted carrying almost $900,000 in tainted money say his wealthy wife was the one who arranged to collect the cash while on their honeymoon in Melbourne.
Lauri Metsaranta, 36, has pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to one charge of dealing in cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.
He and his wife Changchen Chen, 32, were found to be carrying $899,460 they had picked up from a room in Melbourne's Mantra hotel when they were swooped on by Australian Federal Police on February 1 last year.
During the plea hearing on Thursday, the court heard Metsaranta had told police he and his wife had come to Australia as a "sort of honeymoon".
They checked into Melbourne's Grand Hyatt, then went to Subway for some food before heading to the Mantra where they picked up the money before being arrested, the court heard.
Defence barrister Steve Anger told the court on Thursday Metsaranta was in a "slightly secondary, subsidiary" category to his wife.
"We say we're not the person who's the main actor there," Mr Anger said.
"We say we're there by virtue of the fact she's our wife."
Ms Chen, a Chinese-born Finnish national, was jailed last September for 13 months with a non-parole period of seven months.
Prosecutor Colin Mandy said Metsaranta initially told police he never asked his wife what they were going to collect and he was a bit shocked at seeing so much money.
He submitted Judge Sandra Davis should impose a longer sentence for Metsaranta because he initially contested the charges.
Mr Anger said Metsaranta had in all other respects been a model citizen of Finland, excelling in his studies and forging a prestigious career as a Finnair pilot.
"On his plea of guilty that is over," Mr Anger said.
"That is a great consequence for him as an individual."
Metsaranta's bail was extended until Friday, June 19 when he will be sentenced.
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